THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Getting Closer to the Holiday Season!

What do Chicagoans do before the frenzied holiday season is upon them?  They take advantage of non-frenzied weekend events before the big gobble day arrives in all its glory!!  We’re getting closer to the holiday season (less than two weeks away).

Have some relaxing fun this Saturday at The Field of Screams Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt in the South Loop neighborhood at the Field Museum (1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.).  Someone (or something) is bumping off the Field Museum’s staffers who were involved in acquiring a sacred Egyptian relic.  Your team of sleuths will have to crack a hieroglyphic code, question a suspect, and uncover the museum’s secrets to stop the killings!  You’ll even experience fun challenges along the way like exploring an Egyptian tomb, barging into a cocktail hour at an African watering hole, and many others!!  Can you crack the code and stop the killings?

Begin celebrating your holiday season at the JASC’s annual Holiday Delight – Kodomo Matsuri (Children’s Festival) on Saturday (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) at 4427 N. Clark St. in the Uptown neighborhood.  This festival hosts a wide variety of select vendors who specialize in Japanese, Japanese American, and Asian handcrafted goods from jewelry and accessories to specialty paper items, garments, ceramics, books, and more.  Then satisfy your taste buds by enjoying sushi, teriyaki kabobs and burgers, and homemade baked goods while the Kodomo Matsuri entertain the kids with games, craft projects, Japanese dance and drumming demonstrations, and even a pre-Christmas visit from Santa Claus!

Take in a neighborhood play, Meet Me in St. Louis at the Edge of the Wood Theatre (6736 N. Loleta Ave.) in the Edgebrook neighborhood.  This is a wholesome and delightful portrait of a turn-of-the-century American family.  Memorable musical numbers include “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “The Trolley Song” along with the title song itself!  Best of all, Dean’s Team’s very own Rachel is in the play!!

It’s that time of year again when Gallagher Way (3637 N. Clark St.) in the Wrigleyville neighborhood transforms into the Winterland at Gallagher Way offering guests a series of winter events and programming through January 27, 2019.  Neighbors, families, and visitors are invited to glide on the ice rink outside historic Wrigley Field, gaze upon a festive interactive art display, and celebrate the holiday season!

Grab your family and friends and show your red & white pride at the Polish Independence 10K Run-Walk – Bieg Stulecia on Sunday (11:11 a.m.) at Montrose Harbor, Grove 16 (601 W. Montrose Ave.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.  This race commemorates the 100th anniversary of Poland’s resurgence as a sovereign country.  All finishers will receive a custom Bieg Stulecia medal and there are prizes for winners of different age/gender divisions!

Witness gritty, profound, shocking, visceral, and inspiring films that manifest the spirit of adventure at the Adventure Film Festival Chicago on Sunday at the Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport Ave.) in the Lakeview neighborhood.  This film festival showcases gripping tales from the edge of the believable featuring 2018 award winners on a World Tour traveling from Boulder to Chicago, New York, Santiago, and several major cities in between.  These journeys and stories are where dreams are born and legends are made!  Doors open at 4:30 p.m. (time to mingle, buy drinks/snacks, browse the raffle and enter to win, check out sponsors), films begin 5:30 p.m. and raffle winners announced at 8:30 p.m.!!

Are You Looking Forward to the Holiday Season?